Workforce Summit

Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, leads the nation’s largest, most influential employers’ organization, advocating on behalf of New Jersey’s large and small businesses for policies that will make New Jersey more affordable and regionally competitive.

Being known as a collaborative leader, Siekerka is leading an NJBIA established coalition (New Jersey Business Coalition) comprised of more than 100 business and nonprofit associations across the state to tackle the tough economic and business challenges our state is facing during COVID 19.

Well versed on the ‘boots on the ground” issues affecting our state’s business community, Michele is often the “go to” resource for media and is sought after to share her expertise in public forums across the state.

As Chief Government Affairs Officer for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association Christopher focuses on taxation, budget, economic development and workforce development. NJBIA is the largest and most impactful business association in the nation.

Prior to his current job, Emigholz worked in state government for a decade. He was the Budget Director for the State Senate Republican Office for 8 years overseeing economic, fiscal and education policy, and he also directed education policy and legislative affairs in the New Jersey Department of Education prior to that. This is his second stint at NJBIA having served for years as their workforce development and education lobbyist earlier in his career. He was also a teacher through the Teach For America program in a high school in Atlanta, Georgia, and a community liaison/volunteer coordinator for an elementary school in Baltimore City through the AmeriCorps-VISTA program.

Emigholz has a Master of Public Policy degree from Rutgers’ Bloustein School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University. He currently lives in Robbinsville, NJ with his wife and 3 children, where he is active in the community including coaching youth sports and serving on the school board to which he was elected.

Ford, who previously served as director of government relations for the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA), brings valuable experience as a skilled researcher, legislative policy analyst and public speaker to her new role at NJBIA.

“Althea is well-respected by the business community, and the balanced, experienced and thoughtful approach she brings to advocating for New Jersey businesses will be a great asset as we expand the NJBIA Government Affairs team,” Siekerka said.

The NJBIA Government Affairs team also includes Chief Government Affairs Officer Christopher Emigholz, Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor, Vice President of Government Affairs Alexis Bailey, and Director of Economic Policy Research Kyle Sullender.

A New Jersey native and Edison resident, Ford began working for the not-for-profit trade organization NJSFDA in 2012 as a government and external relations representative before her promotion to director of government relations in 2018.

Prior to joining NJSFDA, Ford worked in higher education administration at Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York City.

Before moving back to New Jersey, Ford was an executive assistant to Tennessee State Senate Speaker Pro Tem Rosalind Kurita, managing two legislative and district offices.

Ford is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned her master’s degree in politics and education from the Teachers College at Columbia University in 2010. She completed the New Leaders Council–New Jersey (NLC-NJ) Fellowship Program in 2012 and served on its executive board.

Dr. Yolanda H. Allen is the Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Development at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, where she leads the statewide strategy and infrastructure of New Jersey’s workforce system. She oversees more than $350 million in workforce programs and a team of 350 professionals operating 23 One Stop Career Centers. Dr. Allen provides statewide leadership and direction to New Jersey’s 17 local workforce development boards, strengthening policy alignment, performance, and compliance across the system. She is advancing major modernization efforts, including the development of a new statewide case management system and the expansion of integrated, cross agency service delivery. Dr. Allen works closely with employers and industry partners to build talent pipelines aligned to New Jersey’s key sectors. With over two decades of experience in public administration, she is recognized for building strong systems, improving outcomes, and expanding equitable access to education, training, and employment.

Rich Bagger is a Partner and Executive Director of Christie 55 Solutions, a New Jersey based consulting firm that provides strategic counsel to assist clients with business strategies and opportunities and with complex public policy and regulatory challenges. Rich is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Rutgers University and a member of the Boards of Directors of Tonix Pharmaceuticals and Turtle & Hughes.

Prior to joining Christie 55 Solutions, Rich worked in the health sector for over 25 years, including as the senior most global Corporate Affairs executive for two major biopharmaceutical companies and as legal counsel for a large health plan. From 2012 through 2019, he was Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Market Access for Celgene Corporation, as well as a member of the company’s Executive Committee.  During a 16-year career with Pfizer Inc, Rich served from 2006 to 2009 on Pfizer’s senior most management team as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Public Affairs and Policy. Prior to joining Pfizer, Rich was Assistant General Counsel of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey and before that practiced law with McCarter & English.

Rich has a record of public service that spans more than three decades. From 2012 until 2021, he served as a Commissioner and Finance Chair of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and was the founding Chair of the Gateway Program Development Corporation in 2017. Rich served from 2010 to 2012 as Chief of Staff for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, responsible for managing implementation of the Governor’s policy agenda and priorities. He was also elected to serve five terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he chaired the Appropriations Committee and was elected by his colleagues as Majority Conference Leader.  In 2001, Rich was elected to the New Jersey Senate and served there until 2003.  Before his election to the Legislature, he was a Council Member, Planning Board Chair, and Mayor of Westfield, New Jersey.

Rich served as Board Chair of the National Pharmaceutical Council for 2019 and is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he chaired the Global Innovation Policy Center from 2014 to 2018. He is also on the Board of Blood Cancer United, the Regional Plan Association, Focus New Jersey, and the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest.

He received an A.B. degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a J.D. degree from Rutgers University Law School.

Denise Beckson serves as Vice President, Chief Administrative and External Affairs Officer for Morey’s Piers & Resorts, one of New Jersey’s most prominent family-owned tourism and hospitality organizations. Over her more than three decades with the company, she has led workforce development, regulatory compliance, international student exchange programs, government affairs, and comprehensive safety and operational initiatives across its amusement and water park operations.

Denise is widely recognized for her leadership in shaping public policy affecting New Jersey employers. She has played an influential role in advancing business legislation, including efforts to streamline regulations, strengthen employer resources, and enhance the state’s overall economic vitality. Her work has been especially impactful in the modernization of New Jersey’s minor labor laws, where she has collaborated with stakeholder partners to develop clearer, more practical standards that preserve protections for young workers while supporting the operational needs of seasonal businesses.

Her professional involvement extends across state, national, and global platforms. Denise has served in numerous volunteer leadership positions within the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), chairing committees focused on safety, public affairs, and industry standards. In New Jersey, she is an active participant in employer and tourism coalitions that contribute to legislative and regulatory discussions shaping the state’s business climate.

Denise’s contributions have been recognized through several notable honors, including the Cape May County Golden Whelk Tourism Award, the Scouting America Garden State Council’s Women of Achievement Award, the NJBIA Leonard C. Johnson Award, and multiple industry awards for leadership in safety, advocacy, and public service.

Chrissy Buteas is the President & CEO of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ). Founded in 1997, HINJ serves as the trade association for leading research-based biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies in New Jersey.

A seasoned leader, Buteas has held significant positions throughout her career. Before joining HINJ, she served as the Vice President of Government Affairs at Optimum, a prominent broadband communications and video service provider operating across 21 states. She also served as the Chief Government Affairs Officer of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), where she influenced policies affecting the 1 million employees of member companies. In addition, she led the NEW JOBS PAC, the State’s largest and most influential ideological business political action committee.

Prior to NJBIA, Buteas served as President and CEO of the Home Care & Hospice Association of New Jersey, representing New Jersey home health agencies, hospices, and healthcare service firms providing care to the state’s Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay patients.
Buteas serves on the boards of trustees of Middlesex College, New Jersey Council of County Colleges, NJ Innovation Institute (NJII), Thanexus, Inc. (a funeral service cooperative), the National Association of Corporate Directors, NJ Chapter (NACD-NJ), South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University, the New Jersey Medical Assistance Advisory Council, Focus NJ, Junior Achievement of New Jersey, Women’s Political Caucus of NJ, and The Historic Village at Allaire. She recently served on Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Economic Development and Innovation Action Team.

Buteas holds an MPA from the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark and a BA from Rowan University.

Deborah Cornavaca is Director of Government Relations at the New Jersey Education Association, overseeing policy, lobbying, and political strategy to advance the interests of its 190,000 members. Previously, she served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Phil Murphy, managing labor relations, advocacy outreach, and organizing efforts on key priorities. Deborah earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. from UCLA in anthropology and archaeology, and her B.A. from Dartmouth College. She lives in East Brunswick, Middlesex County, where she and her husband raised their three children, and has been active in her community, including serving on the public library board and currently as a Democratic Committee member.

Kristi D’Angeli is the CEO and Founder of WorkDynamX, a WBENC-certified firm specializing in recruiting and HR advisory services that help organizations build strong teams and navigate complex workforce challenges. She is also the Co-Founder and Chief Administrative Officer of Morris Technology Partners (MTP), an IT services firm providing managed technology support, cybersecurity, and strategic IT solutions for small to mid-sized organizations.

Kristi is a Certified Helix Facilitator and frequently works with leadership teams and boards to strengthen decision-making, collaboration, and organizational alignment.

Her leadership has earned recognition as one of the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs in New Jersey, a NJBIZ 40 Under 40 honoree, and a Women Business Leader featured in Forbes Magazine. She currently serves on the Boards of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges and the Patriots’ Path Council of Scouting America.

Susan LaMonica is the Chief Human Resources Officer and a member of the bank’s executive committee. In this role, she oversees a team of Human Resources professionals responsible for organizational development and culture, leadership and talent development, learning, inclusion, compensation and benefits and human resource operations. Susan is also responsible for the firm’s Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs divisions. She has played a critical role in the successful separation of Citizens from the Royal Bank of Scotland in the largest Commercial Bank IPO in US history and has since facilitated several acquisitions as part of Citizens’ growth. Most recently, acquiring a large private bank team that enabled the national launch of Citizens’ Private Bank.

Susan plays a key role in the bank’s transformation with a multi-year Human Capital strategy and change agenda that reimagines how work gets done and experienced. She is driving the adoption of an agile operating model and leading the deployment of programs, resources and initiatives that support a culture that prioritizes skill development and reskilling and upskilling the workforce to be future ready.

Susan is a community leader who continues to give back and make a difference in the industry and in her community. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors for Year Up United, the Board of Directors for ProSight and serves as President of the Board for Oasis-A Haven for Women and Children. She also is on the Board of Trustees at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and a member of the Council for Women of Boston College. Susan previously served on the Board of Directors for Enhabit (NYSE: EHAB) and served as Chair of the Compensation & Human Capital Committee. As Executive Sponsor of the Caring for Citizens Business Resource Group, LaMonica advocates for efforts to support working parents and caregivers to meet colleague, customer, and community needs.

Nicol Nicola is the Director of Economic and Demographic Research at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, where she leads a team of economists, analysts, and survey specialists. She oversees the collection, analysis, and dissemination of labor market and demographic data that inform policymakers, businesses, and researchers at the state and national levels. In addition to her leadership role, Dr. Nicola is an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey, where she teaches business statistics and artificial intelligence.

Catherine Frugé Starghill, Esq. is the Vice President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) and Executive Director of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development (Consortium). She is also the former Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Catherine was named to NJBIZ’s Top 50 in Education list in both 2022 and 2023, and was named one of New Jersey’s 25 Most Influential African Americans by the South Jersey Journal in 2017 as one of the “State’s leaders who stands head and shoulders above others and boldly reflects the rich diversity and excellence of the African American community throughout the Garden State.”

As Vice President of the NJCCC and Executive Director of the Consortium, Catherine is the executive who developed and implemented the statewide New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative with over 1,800 industry and education partners aligning education to the needs of the workforce to build a stronger economy. She hosts the annual NJ Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit in Atlantic City, NJ for over 500 industry and education partners gathered to learn from national though-leaders focused on education and workforce training pathways to build stronger state economies, innovative workforces, and economic mobility for the state’s residents.

Catherine simultaneously earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from the University of Michigan. She later earned a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University Law School and a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Catherine was married to the late Rev. Dr. Britt A. Starghill and is the mother of two children, Britt Andrew and Brie Alexandra.

Cyndie Williams accepted the role as Executive Director of the Carpenter Contractor Trust (CCT) in December 2021. She actively oversees CCT’s partnerships with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC) and signatory contractor organizations to promote and support their shared values, competencies, and ambitions. Cyndie extends this vision across the EASRCC domain, encompassing New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

As the Executive Director, Cyndie is committed to overseeing all CCT’s initiatives, ranging from collaborating with industry partners to developing a unifi ed workforce. She believes that expanding market share and work hours are vital indicators for the union’s sustained growth and well-being.

Under Cyndie’s guidance, CCT aims to broaden its reach and impact within the construction industry. She considers rich talent pools as essential components of her mission. This emphasis is vital in attracting new talent to foster a robust and prosperous environment for union carpenters and signatory contractors.

Cyndie’s leadership is instrumental in steering CCT toward achieving these core objectives, with a focus on the broader vision of building a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future for the construction industry and the communities it serves

Deborah Visconi, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center President and CEO

Deborah Visconi is a highly accomplished executive with more than 30 years of success in providing strategic direction, vision, leadership, and oversight of operations in hospitals and healthcare systems across the metropolitan region.

Due to her remarkable career, she was identified and selected to be the champion leader tasked to transition New Jersey’s largest hospital from its former for-profit management model to a new, non-profit community asset now known as Bergen New Bridge Medical Center.

As a Latinx hospital leader, Deb understands the unique issues and needs of underserved and minority communities, which she has prioritized in the hospital’s community health needs assessment process and its ongoing outreach efforts.

With Deb’s organizational and strategic planning expertise, Bergen New Bridge has expanded programs and services, and enhanced provider relations yielding improvement in quality, safety, and the patient/resident experience. The Medical Center has been recognized as a ‘Top Hospital’ and ‘Top Teaching Hospital’ by the Leapfrog Group. The Medical Center has been recognized as a Top Diversity Leader by Modern Healthcare, received the Empowering Women Award from NJBIZ, and Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The Joint Commission awarded Bergen New Bridge its Advanced Certification in Health Equity.

Consistent with her commitment to healthcare outreach and education, Deb collaborates with the County of Bergen and other community partners to launch programs that deliver care onsite, directly and via telehealth to thousands in the community including the innovative CareRite Now primary care centers located in select Bergen County Inserra ShopRite supermarkets.

The most competitive organizations today have figured out something others haven’t: how, when, and where work gets done isn’t just a people issue. It’s about performance, especially in the age of AI and flexible work.

Flex+Strategy Group (FSG) closes that gap. For nearly three decades, FSG has helped organizations define the optimal operating architecture that drives high performance across places, technology, and time. FSG doesn’t just diagnose the problem. They engage all levels, from the C-Suite to the frontline, to build on what’s working, reimagine what’s possible, and then make that vision a reality guided by a proven, evidence-based framework.

At a moment when many organizations feel they must make consequential decisions about AI and talent reactively, based on data that’s often misinterpreted and productivity gains still unproven, FSG gives leaders the structure to transform work deliberately.

Cali Williams Yost, FSG’s Founder and CEO, leads that work. Called “one of the most sophisticated thinkers” on the transformation of work by The New York Times, Yost brings the vision of a futurist and analytical rigor of an experienced researcher and former commercial banker to an area most organizations still treat as policy rather than strategy. FSG’s proprietary High-Performance Flexibility® (HPF) methodology executes an organization’s most pressing priorities, concurrently and efficiently—AI adoption, workforce transformation, talent retention, productivity improvement, innovation and sustainable growth—rather than treating each as a separate initiative.

FSG’s clients include BDO USA, The Gates Foundation, Columbia University, Stanford University, ConEdison, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and the Singapore Government.

A Columbia Business School honors graduate recognized as an alumnus “Changing the World,” Yost is named one of the global management thinkers “On the Radar” by Thinkers50, a LinkedIn Top Voice (since 2024), and a Forbes 40 Women to Watch Over 40. Her commentary appears regularly in the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, CNBC, NPR, and NBC Nightly News.

She is the author of two books on work transformation and a sought-after keynote speaker for executive audiences worldwide.